FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT TRASH - PAGE 5

Allen Township residents and business owners are asked to be mindful of the weather when placing their trash and recyclables at the curb for collection. The recent windy conditions have blown around a great deal of trash that now litters the township roads, according to the township's website. The township reminds its residents to use proper containers and secure items so that they don't blow out of the cans in an effort to keep the township litter-free, the website said. For information, visit http://www.allentownship.org.

To the Editor: "Trash transfer station proposed in L. Macungie," the headline on an article in the Nov. 24 Morning Call, should send out warning signals to the community. Anyone using routes 29 and 100 should be particularly on the alert. The addition of at least 100 trucks to these roads on a daily basis would tax the travel network of the area. It is not just a question of the N.I.M.B.Y. (not in my back yard) syndrome, but one of safety. If trash is to be, and should be, the responsibility of individuals and their local communities, why should we support a privately owned and operated trash facility servicing four or more counties?

Regarding the March 19 article about the Heidelberg Township man found dead in his pickup truck: I was disgusted that the reporters needed to inform the public that the property of James H. Lloyd Sr. was considered "an eyesore." What does this have to do with the fact that a man who was a father, friend and neighbor was killed? The only eyesore was the trash printed in those two paragraphs in the article. Angela Rex Heidelberg Township

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Arlington authorities have issued an all-clear after a suspicious package reported near the site of the Super Bowl was deemed safe. Arlington fire Lt. Pete Arevalo (uh-REV'-a-low) said a package that a witness reported was thrown into a drainage ditch Friday morning near Cowboys Stadium turned out to be trash. Arevalo said the area around the stadium was closed minutes after the 911 call around 8 a.m. He said bomb squad personnel were used to examine the package on a street along the north side of the $1.3 billion stadium.

Upper Macungie Township is offering an opportunity for senior citizens to receive a $30 discount on their trash and recycling in 2015. Residents must be 65 or older by Dec. 31 and provide a proof of age in order to qualify for the discount, according to the township's spring newsletter. Those interested must also own and reside at their own home, the newsletter said. To apply for the discount, either call 610-395-4892 to make an appointment or visit the township's municipal building at 8330 Schantz Road, Breinigsville.

An east Allentown man Wednesday night hit his mother in her stomach, which recently was operated on, because she asked him to take out the garbage, police said. When city police found Stephanie Ardie in the kitchen of her home in the 600 block of N. Sherman Street, she was vomiting into a trash can, according to the arrest affidavit for her son. Cane Justice Singleton, 18, her son, was charged with simple assault and harassment. Arraigned by District Judge Karen C. Devine, he was sent to Lehigh County Prison under $10,000 bail.

Upper Macungie is reminding residents of its rules for trash and recycling pickup. Please put your trash, recyclables and any bulk item out after 6:00 p.m. the night before your pickup day. The following items can be recycled: newspaper, residential mixed paper, glass (clear, green, & brown), aluminum, tin, and steel/bi-metallic cans, plastic one through seven, clean and rinsed. Corrugated cardboard can be put out but must be no larger than 2 foot by 4 foot and bundled separately.

Friday is the deadline for registering a cleanup effort with Pick It Up PA, a statewide effort to clean up litter and trash from roads, parks, neighborhoods and open spaces set for April 19 to May 3. Community and civic associations, school and youth groups, families and friends, businesses, clubs and organizations -- in short, anyone -- may participate. To register a group, find a group to join and report results, go to www.greatpacleanup.org. Last year, 139,480 people picked up 7,441,919 pounds of trash in Pennsylvania.

Art is going green at Cedar Crest College, as the school is ready to open its newest exhibit today that seeks to challenge peoples perceptions of trash. The exhibit will open with a reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the North Annex of the Tompkins College Center. Bust a Snapple Cap by Melanie Devlin, right, is made of aluminum. Through the Window by Emily Mueller, far right, was made out of materials including a box, duct tape and postcard.

Emmaus property owners will see their trash bills go up by $6 next year to help keep the borough's compost site running. "No one has ever really taken a look at what the facility offers and what it really cost the borough to run. The cost is far greater than anyone expected," said Emmaus Councilman Jeff Shubzda. Council voted last week to add the fee starting next year. Property owners currently pay $306 per year to have their trash and recyclables hauled away. Businesses that use the compost site will see their use fee rise from $50 to $100 a year.